Portable writing or drawing desk.



No. 642,383.' Patented Jan. 3o, |900. T. E. STARK.

PURTABLE WRITING 0R DRAWING DESK. (Application tiled Aug. 9, 1899.) (No Model.)

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No. 642,383. Patentedlan. su, |900. T. E. STARK.

PORTABLE WRITING 0R DRAWING DESK.

(Application led Aug. 9, 1899.) (No Model.) l2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

// In Wmai Hawai j rrirn STATES FFICF PATENT PORTABLE wRrrlNG OR DRAWING DESK.;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,383, dated January 30,

Application filed August 9,1899.

To au rtf/tom t may concern:

Be it known that I, TRUMAN E. STARK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Naperville, county of Du Page, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Portable Writing or Drawing Desks, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The invention relates to a desk adapted to be folded, so that it may be conveniently carried, and to be opened, so as to provide a suitable writing or drawing table and an easel supported in proper position Vat the back of the table.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which shall be neat, strong, and compact, easily manipulated, and afford a firm support both for the table portion and the easel.

The invention consists in the various parts and combinations of parts, as hereinafter fully described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 represents the desk in perspective in its open form, certain portions being broken away. Fig. 2 is a detail section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, the movable parts of the desk being shown in different positions. YFig. 5 is a central transverse section of the desk when closed, showing the securing-clasp; and Figs. 6, 7, and S are details of the construction.

The body of the desk is preferably in the form of a box 10 and oblong rectangular in shape, one of its long sides 11, which Will be designated as the back, being hinged to the bottom, so that it will open outwardly. The cover 12 is hinged to the ends of the box 10 by means of rigid link-bars 13, pivoted to the ends of the box, preferably midway of their length, and to the ends of the cover near its front edge. The attachment of the links to the cover is by means of metal clips 14,'folded to U form, so as to lit upon the edge of the cover, and being secured thereto by rivets. The cross member of the clip is apertured, and the end of the link-bar 13 is bent to a right angle, so as to enter this aperture, and

Serial No. 726,630. (No model.)

is headed up, as shown at 15, to prevent its withdrawal therefrom.

The easel 16 is hinged to a plate 17, secured to the inner face of the cover 12 near its front edge, and the leg or support for the easel is in the form of a plate 18, hinged to the base, preferably by being rigidly fixed to the inner face of the back 11 of the box and being perpendicular thereto. The leg 1S is hinged to the easel 16 near the upper or swinging edge of the latter, and the proportions and arrangement of the several parts are such that when the cover 12 is closed the easel and its leg are folded against the inner face thereof and the rear side 11 of the box is closed.

At each of the upper corners of the easel 16 are provided spring-clips 19 for holding copysheets 20. The inner face of the cover 12 is preferably provided with acover adapted to receive the marks of a slate-pencil or piece of chalk, and it may be marked off with a graduated scale, as shown at 21. The rearward edge of the cover 12 is provided with a liexible iiap 22, adapted to engage a stud 23 projecting from the side 11 of the box when the latter is closed. Metal lips 24:, only 011e of which is shown, are secured to the front of the base 10, and when the box form of base is employed are attached to its upper edge, as shown. These lips project inwardly, and similar lips 25 project from the outer edge of the hinge-plate 17 and are adapted to engage the lips 24 when the desk .is closed, thereby preventing the raising of the cover 12.

If the base is in the form of a box, it may be utilized as a receptacle for drawing materials, and to this end a rib 26 is placed longitudinally across its bottom near its rearward edge, and a similar rib 27 is located near the front of the box, thus dividing its interior into a space for paper and a' space for pencils.

The desk is intended to be covered and lined with suitable cloth, and the hinges are preferably of fabric, as shown at 2S. For the purpose of greater strength the hinge, by means of which the leg 18 is attached to the easel 16, comprises a plurality of pieces of cloth, such as 29, which, being secured to the outer face of the leg, is folded over its edge and turned downwardly and cemented to the face of the easel, While another portion or IOO readily understand.

portions, as 30, may he cemented to the inner face of the leg 1S and, projecting upwardly, be cemented to the face of the easel. These are details which a box-maker will It will be seen that by the construction described the cover 12 is adapted to be entirely overturned. I/Vhen the desk is open, the inner face of the cover is uppermost and the 1o easel is properly supported in convenient position for supporting the copy. In closing the desk the forward edge of the cover is raised by means of the flap 22, and as it is lifted to a vertical position its rearward por- 15 tion is brought forward, the parts assuming the position represented in Fig. 4.' The movement being continued in the direction of the arrows in the last-named figure, the parts assume the position indicated in Fig. 5, and the zo flap 22 is secured to the stud 23, the lips 25 engaging the lips 24, and the whole is thereby securely held against accidental or unintentional opening. The desk is opened by simply reversing the movement, and when open and in the `position shown in Fig. l the several parts stay each other, so that there is no tendency of the top of the desk to shift its position as the user moves his hand over it.

By attaching the hinge-links 13 on the 1on- 3o gitudinal median line of the box the cover edges coincide with the front of the box both in the open and closed position. It' it is desired, this arrangement mayA be departed from, and I do not limit myself to it.

I claim as my inventionl. In a portable drawing and writing desk, in combination, a base, a cover hinged to the base by links attached to the ends of said parts, an easel hinged to the inner face of the cover near one of its edges, and a leg for 4the easel hinged thereto and to the base.

2. In a portable drawing and writing desk, in combination, a base in box form, one side of the box being hinged to thebottom, acover hinged to the box by links attached to the ends of such parts, an easel hinged to the inner face of the cover, and a leg for the easel fixed to the hinged side of the box.

3. In a portable drawing and writing desk, in combination, a base, a cover hinged to the base by links attached to the ends of such parts, a lip secured to the inner face of the cover, a lip Iixed to the base for engaging the lip of the cover, and means for securing the edge of the cover, remote from its lip, to the base.

4. In a portable drawing and writing desk, in combination, a base in box form, one side of the box being hinged to the bottom, a cover hinged to the box by links pivotally attached to the box ends midway of their length and to the edges of the cover near one of its side edges, an easel pivoted to one face of the cover, a leg fixed to the hinged side of the box and hinged to the easel.

5. In a portable drawing and writing desk, in combination, a base, a cover hinged to the base by links pivotally attached to the base ends midway of their length and to the ends of the cover near one of its side edges, an easel pivoted to one face of the cover, a leg for the easel and being hinged thereto and to the base.

TRUM AN E. STA RK.

Witnesses:

PAUL CARPENTER, LOUIS K. GILLsoN. 

